Life satisfaction after traumatic brain injury: comparison of ratings with the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).

Lars Jacobsson,Jan Lexell

doi:10.1186/s12955-016-0405-y

Abstract

BackgroundAn optimal life satisfaction (LS) is considered an important long-term outcome after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is, however, not clear to what extent a single instrument captures all aspects of LS, and different instruments may be needed to comprehensively describe LS. The aim of this study was to compare self-ratings of life satisfaction after a TBI with two commonly used instruments.MethodsLife Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11), comprising eleven items and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), comprising five items, were administered to 67 individuals (51 men and 16 women). Secondary analysis of data collected as part of a survey of individuals with TBI 6 to 15 years post TBI.ResultsItem 1 in LiSat-11 (‘Life as a whole’) and the total SWLS score was strongly correlated (Spearman’s rho = 0.66; p < 0.001). The total score in SWLS had the strongest correlation with items in LiSat-11. All items in LiSat-11, except ‘Family life’ and ‘Partner relationship’, were moderately to strongly correlated with items in SWLS. The item ‘Partner relationship’ in LiSat-11 did not correlate with any of the items in SWLS or the total score. The item ‘If I could live my life over, I would change nothing’ in SWLS had the weakest correlations with items in LiSat-11. Items ‘Vocation’ and ‘Leisure’ in LISat-11 were most strongly correlated with items in SWLS, whereas the item ‘ADL’ in LiSat-11 was more weakly correlated with items in SWLS.ConclusionsThe strength of the relationships implies that the two instruments assess similar but not identical aspects of LS and therefore complement each other when it is rated.

Highlights

A high level of life satisfaction (LS) is considered an important outcome of rehabilitation and a long-term endpoint after a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
It is not clear to what extent a single instrument captures all aspects of LS, and different instruments may be needed to Jacobsson and Lexell Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (2016) 14:10 comprehensively describe LS
Participants Participants were obtained from a sample of 332 individuals with a computed tomography (CT) verified TBI and brain injury symptoms who had been transferred to the only Neurosurgical Clinic in the region for neurosurgical care during the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 2001 [8]

Summary

Introduction

A high level of life satisfaction (LS) is considered an important outcome of rehabilitation and a long-term endpoint after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). [3] and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) [4] Even though these two instruments assess LS, there are notable differences between them. It is not clear to what extent a single instrument captures all aspects of LS, and different instruments may be needed to Jacobsson and Lexell Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (2016) 14:10 comprehensively describe LS. An optimal life satisfaction (LS) is considered an important long-term outcome after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is, not clear to what extent a single instrument captures all aspects of LS, and different instruments may be needed to comprehensively describe LS. The aim of this study was to compare self-ratings of life satisfaction after a TBI with two commonly used instruments

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